When i searched on a website and suddenly I got this ACMA block on google and Safari, this said I had a fine to pay of $100 AUD to pay immediately or face prosecution for viewing illegal sites(which I was not). I was subsequently that this was a scam and my unit now had I virus(malware?). I then contacted your company for guidance. I am in my 70s and have very little knowledge of using this iPad. I was using Safari on my iPhone 6 and this ACMA virus warning came up saying it was from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, telling me my location and that I was being accused of viewing or distributing child pornography and if I didn’t pay $500 using PayPal in a certain amount of time that I would be prosecuted. I was freaking out and then I restarted my iPhone, but the page didn’t go away. I can’t access Internet because Safari has been blocked. What should I do? What does the virus usually do on an iPhone? How do I get rid of it for good?
ACMA Virus (as known as Australian Communications and Media Authority scam) is a misleading pop up that labeled as Ransomware aiming to target Australian users only. Actually this malware has been circulated online for a long period. At the beginning, it mainly hits and locks windows computer to trick computer users into sending money and unlock their device. Nowadays, the virus is upgraded and able to attack android phone, tablet and Apple products including iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Technically speaking, it is not a virus and your iOS device has not been infected. It belongs to a “hijacker” that is limited to your web browser. ACMA ransomware will silently install on your device and then take control of your browser including Safari and Chrome to stop you accessing Internet at all.
To swindle your money, it displays a phony message that says you have violated laws and thus your device has been blocked as a punishment:
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
AFP Crime Commission (ACC)
Royal Australian Corps of Military Police
Interpol
Attention!
Your phone has been blocked for safety reasons listed below.
You are accused of viewing/storage and/or dissemination of banned pornography (child pornography/zoophilia/rape etc.)
……
The message has your name, location and ip address, even with AFP, ACC, ACMA logo and seal. It looks real, but in fact it is a scam and it has no relation any of mentioned organization. The scam falsely accuses its victim for the use of copyrighted content, distribution of pornographic material and similar crimes and then demands several hundreds to unlock the device. It won’t allow users to access Internet until the ransom is transferred. On the blocked message, it scares users that data in the device will be deleted in 24 hours and the apple ID can be blocked forever if they refuse to pay the fine. It only gives yo a button with OK, but you can not go further unless you pay $100-$500 fine through Paypal or Ukash first. This browser hijack usually occurs when the iPhone user connects to untrusted Wi-Fi hotspots in places like coffee shops, public libraries, airports and visits malicious webpage such as porno sites. It is worth mentioning that paying the fine cannot really help get rid of ACMA Virus. Your Safari still remains blocked and worse still your credit card information, log-in password or other important data could be more vulnerable for further attacks. Don’t hesitate to remove ACMA virus scam from your iPhone or iPad.
We used to think that Apple iOS gadgets were pretty immune to viruses and malware. Sadly, over the past year hackers have turned their attention to our mobile gear. Usually, the installation of ACMA Virus can be completed in a short time and then it pops up immediately to lock your iphone or ipad without signs if you visit a phishing site, open a junk e-mail attachment, click on an unknown link or download an application from an unsafe source. You will be easily get infected by this virus after you jailbreak your device.
It will block your Internet access once it is downloaded.
It will pretend itself as a legitimate warning from Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACC or AFP and then ask for a ransom.
It will not let you close Safari or Chrome.
It can block all types of antivirus apps.
1. ACMA Virus Message can run on iPhone, iPad, iPod or other Apple devices.
2. Don’t pay for anything or provide your personal information to this hoax, it won’t help unlock Safari/Chrome, but just waste your money.
3. Currently antivirus apps are unable to detect or remove this malware.
4. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
Since viruses are quite inevitable, there are some tips you can avoid being infected with ACMA Virus in the future:
1. Be careful of downloading applications in the internet because many of them are just cloned applications. Visit legitimate app stores like Apple Store because it filters out the reliable application from what’s not reliable. Most viruses are from gaming and anti-virus applications which are forged. Before downloading an application, try to read some customer reviews so that you will be assured that it is truly a trusted app. Stick with apps from App Store and don’t jailbreak your device and install apps from third-parties.
2. Be cautious at opening attachments thru MMS, SMS messages and e-mails because you might open an unknown attachment from unknown sender. Never open any attachments which are suspicious to you.
3. Don’t open your Bluetooth connection when not in need. It would be easy for the virus to go inside the phone’s application and destroy the phone’s performance.
4. Read the permissions. Every app you install has to declare its permissions, meaning the app lists what it will have access to on your phone. Don’t just click OK without reading what the app will do.
ACMA Virus uses javascript to block user’s Internet access and prevent them from going online properly. It uses scare tactic to deceive people into paying the ransom without unblocking their device. Obviously it is a hoax. The virus rapidly spreads over the Internet and has infected thousands of devices at an alarming rate. There is no anti-malware apps that can delete the virus automatically. Worse still Australian Communications and Media Authority virus won’t go away unless you have removed all its components step by step. Even in some cases it may disappear itself for a while to let you get Internet access back, but your device is still unsafe. It is still a threat for your privacy. To completely get this off iPhone or iPad, you can contact YooCare PC experts 24/7 online for help right now.
Published by on January 13, 2016 10:23 am, last updated on March 1, 2018 3:26 am
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.